F1 Rumor: Report claims Verstappen to Mercedes deal imminent

It is time to bump this rumor up to ‘strong’ today. Max Verstappen’s brother-inlaw (well not quite) Nelson Piquet Jr. discussed Mercedes’ chances in 2026 during the Pelas Pistas Podcast. and he let slip where Max Verstappen will be driving next year.

There are weekends this year when things just don’t work out. There’s not much to do about it. One of their drivers is a rookie, who was then unfortunately hit by Hadjar last weekend. In any case, it was not the weekend for Mercedes. But who knows what next year might bring when Max is driving there!

Piquet to realize he should not have let the cat out of the bag, as he immediately shut up after this statement. However, the podcast host immediately picked up on it. Although the 39-year-old emphasized that nothing has been contractually established yet, he did highlight that Mercedes is a logical choice.

The former F1 driver was also certain about who should join Verstappen if he moves to Mercedes. “It will be Kimi Antonelli. If he goes there, it will be Antonelli,” he stated decisively.

July 3, 2025

The F1 media swarmed and fawned over Max Verstappen Thursday during the 2025 British GP media day. Everyone wants to know if Verstappen is really leaving Red Bull after 2025.

Max Verstappen about his future: “I do not talk about my contract. No decision has been made at the moment. For me, it is not about 2026 or anything. I just concentrate on what is coming and the cooperation with the team. Of course, many people come with assumptions. That certainly does not come from me. As I said last week, that’s all I can say about it. I don’t think anyone can say with 100 percent certainty that they’ll will feel completely comfortable next year. There are so many unknowns for next year anyway. The only thing I can do is drive as fast as I can with what I have.”

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari prior to the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 23, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

July 2, 2025

Sky Sport Italia, the official broadcaster of Formula 1 in Italy, has reported a deal to bring Max Verstappen to Mercedes is imminent and awaiting approval from the board.

According to the report, Verstappen has agreed to an offer from the German marque’s F1 boss Toto Wolff.

The Dutchman is currently contracted to Red Bull through to 2028. However, contract clauses leave the door open for an early exit.

According to the Sky Sport Italia report, Mercedes incumbent George Russell would make way for Verstappen to partner Kimi Antonelli.

Russell is off-contract, and although Mercedes boss Wolff said he is happy with the Brit, the opportunity to hire four-time world champion Verstappen may well be irresistible.

The team principal has made it no secret that he would like to have Verstappen in the Silver Arrows camp.

“As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you’re going to be back on top you need to make sure you’ve got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that’s what Mercedes are chasing,” said current Mercedes driver George Russell.

“So, it’s only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. I feel with the performance I’m showing at the moment, I’ve got zero reasons to be worried.”